Social care in crisis – action is needed now, says ADASS

Directors of adult social services have added their weight to concerns about the growing funding shortfalls for services to older people. According to John Dixon, vice president of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS), there is ‘cast iron’ evidence that unsustainable demand pressures are putting all budgets â€“ social care as well as health â€“ under severe strain. â€œThose pressures have been confirmed by a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA); by the King’s Fund report drawn up by Sir Derek Wanless last year; by our own analysis of spending pressures on services for people with learning disabilities, and by the daily experience of every director of adult social services and their staff across the country,â€ said Mr Dixon. â€œThere are undoubtedly some areas where unpredicted shortfalls in NHS funding have led to sudden, short-term financial difficulties for neighbouring local authority social care services. â€œIn its survey, the LGA has quite rightly drawn attenti